An argument contains a position the author wants readers to accept and reasons offered in its support. Finding that main claim helps you distinguish the central message from examples, background, and qualifications.
Read with a purpose
Ask what question the text addresses and what answer the author proposes. Look for a claim that organizes the major sections, not merely an interesting sentence. Restate it in your own words and compare it with the evidence and conclusion. Some authors develop a claim gradually, so your first formulation may need revision as you read.
Work through the text
In an essay about school schedules, a description of early start times may provide background rather than the central argument. The main claim might recommend a change under particular conditions. Identify the proposed action, the reason offered, and the scope of the recommendation. Then check whether each section supports that formulation. If a major section does not fit, you may have made the claim too narrow, too broad, or more absolute than the author intended.
Check your understanding
Avoid treating the title or first sentence as a guaranteed thesis. Distinguish the author's position from a view they quote or criticize. Preserve qualifying language such as some, may, and under these conditions. A concise summary is useful only when it remains faithful to the strength and boundaries of the original argument.
Put it into practice
Try it in your next study session
- Use a topic that matters to you and write the text's central question and proposed answer in two sentences.
- Match three sections to that answer, revising your formulation if it fails to account for a major part of the argument.
- Check your main-claim sentence against the author's conclusion and treatment of objections. Preserve qualifying language and separate the author's view from a position being described or criticized. If your formulation could fit almost any article on the topic, make it more specific to this text's actual answer and reasoning.
Sources & further reading
Practical examples and exercises are original StudyMaster learning activities. Read about our editorial approach.